Effect of mass drug administration on lymphatic filariasis: economic and social impact.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Lymphatic filariasis, the second most common vector borne parasitic disease after malaria. According to WHO, lymphatic filariasis is the second most common cause of long term disability after mental illness. The Government of India has accorded a high priority for elimination of this infection through mass chemotherapy programme (MDA). Material and Methods: This study was conducted to see the effect of MDAon lymphatic filariasis. As lymphatic filariasis control programme is a national programme and it is controlled and monitored by health services, we collected and analyzed the data from four sentinel centers from Nagpur district from 2004 to 2012. Result and Conclusion: We observed that after repeated administration of MDA the Mf rate has declined over a period of time and helped to reduce the transmission from one person to other. It also prevents the chronic disability and increases the marriage prospectus in young females in endemic area. The cost of preventing one case of chronic disease is very low as compared to other chronic diseases. So we concluded that repeated subsequent rounds of MDA is effective. It is economical with social benefits.